Below the Fold [Podcast]: Brother Ali Wrestles With His Ego While Creating A New Album

Hounded and harassed by Homeland Security after his song and video Uncle Sam Goddam went viral back in 2007, Brother Ali continues to be called one of raps most insightful and political artists. He called his album Mourning in America, Dreaming In Color (2012), a manifesto on the political, socioeconomic and cultural suffering in modern American life, as well as a declaration of hope and possibility for a brighter future.

Working on the follow up currently, Brother Ali is mindful and focused on creating work that does no harm. “The ego is such a ninja,” Brother Ali told me during a recent interview for this podcast. “The ego is so masterful in trying to destroy everything that we do. It can poison the work that we are doing in terms of thinking that my truth is the best and only truth. Even in being humble, the ego gets off on people saying ‘Oh man, I can’t believe how humble you are.’"

Listen to the full interview, where Brother Ali dishes on how far Homeland Security went to intimidate him, being a community organizer, the influence of his mentor Chuck D, and how Donald Trump’s racism has already made things much worse for his family.

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